the maroon machine

[Brent]

gidday guys im looking for some books to read about the british paras,anything recommended would be great.

[Manray9]

Brent wrote: "gidday guys im looking for some books to read about the british paras,anything recommended would be great."

There are plenty, but are you looking for general or broad histories or specific individuals or events? For specific, try:

Arnhem by Major-General R. E. Urquhart

A Drop Too Many: A Paratrooper at Arnhem by Major-General John Frost

I Was A Stranger by General Sir John Hackett

[Geevee]

Brent if you have a period then that'll help. There are many for WWII and Manray9's are good - here are a few more modern day:

Danger Close: Commanding 3 Para In Afghanistan by Stuart Tootal (was commanding officer of 3 Para in Helmand)

3 Para by Patrick Bishop

Ground Truth: 3 Para: Return To Afghanistan by Patrick Bishop

A Cold Night in June: Falklands Battle of Mount Longdon by Robert Lofthouse (was a sergeant in the battle)

Goose Green: A Battle is Fought to Be Won: The Falklands War by Mark Adkin

Falklands Hero: Ian McKay - The Last VC of the 20th Century by John Cooksey

['Aussie Rick']

Although published in the early 1990's this book does give you a history of the Regiment up until that point:


Para!: Fifty Years of the Parachute Regiment by Peter Harclerode

[Brent]

Thanks heaps guys there is great reading here it is exactly what I was hoping for.any books on the paras in Ireland would also be greatly appreciated once again thank you.

['Aussie Rick']

Hi Brent, one book that I absolutely loved about the British Army in Ireland was this book made up of first-hand accounts:

by Ken Wharton

It covers a range of units, not just the Para's but its graphic and interesting reading and since this was published in 2008 I think he has released another two books in a similar style.

[Brent]

That's great first hand accounts make the best reading once again thanks for the info.

[Geevee]

Brent I can't speak highly enough of Ken Wharton's books. Also, again not wholly Parachute Regiment this is a good book too. It covers for instance Warrenpoint and again other incidents involving many British units deployed to the Province and includes interviews with those who served in the RUC. The author also spoke to those in PIRA.

Bandit Country: The IRA & South Armagh by Toby Harnden

Tenuous link to the Parachute Regiment here but another book by Toby Harnden that was very well received is

Dead Men Risen: The Welsh Guards and the Real Story of Britain's War in Afghanistan by Toby Harnden